Welder&#39;s mask



Oct. 3, 1939. K. w. MENTETSKI WELDER" s MASK Filed April 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Shet 1 K. w. MENTETSKI WELDER S MASK Filed April 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l'llllll- Patented Get. 3, i939 vvnLnERs MASK Kaiser ,W. Mentetski, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 2, 1937, Serial No. 134,479

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in welders 'masks and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a mask especially adapted for use by operators of electric welding apparatus, gas

welding and cutting apparatus and grinding wheels and the like, for afiording a safe protection [for the head and neck of the operator,

against sparks and .other flying particles en{ countered in work of this kind.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mask of this kind which may be adjusted according to the facial features of an operator top-rovide an accurate and comfortable fit of the mask so as toremain in place regardless of theposition of ,the head, thus leaving both hands free for the work to b done.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a mask of this kind which includes a. sight opening' covered. by a ray filter 'to shield the eyes against harmful rays generatedin-welding and which ray filter may be made to uncover said sight opening for a clear vision therethrough, by a movement of the chin.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mask of this kind including a chin actuatable means for operating the ray filter to uncover the sight opening for a clearer vision there 7 through and which means is capable of being ad-".

'justed upwardly'or downwardly and inwardly and outwardly to fit the head of the wearer re-- gardless of the relative features.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a mask of thiskind which, afterhavin'g been once adjusted for an operator, may be disposition of the facial quickly removed and then replaced without disturbing the adjustments of the various parts.

Again, it'is-an object of the invention to proment to the associated hood of the mask.

The above mentioned objects of the invention,

mask embodying the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view" in side elevation of the iinproved mask.

same.

- tional for Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the mask on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the mask on the scale of Fig. 3, as taken on the line, 5 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical detail sectional view through a part of the mask as taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a transverse detail sectional view on 10 an enlarged scale through a certain extensible bar embodied in the mask as taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. "7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the extensible bar shown in-Fig. 6 as taken on 15 the line 17 of Fig. 6.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, 10 indicates as a whole, that part of the mask adapted to be worn upon the head of the person using the. '20

As herein shown, said member is in the form of a conventionalw'elders hood, made of a light weight, fireproof material, such as pressed fibre. The hood, which isof such vertical length as to protect the neck of the wearer, includes a. 35 front wall I I, side walls lZ-IZ and a top wall l3. In the top rear end of the hood is a forehead engaging rest l4 and associated with this part of the hood is a stall or head strap l5 by which the hood is secured in place upon the head. The 30 hood thus far described may be taken as conven the welders hoods such-as are now used.

In the front wall of the hood is an opening l6 covered by a front plate 11. Bolts l8 pass through 35 the marginal part of the front plate and through those margins of the front wall defining the carries a flange IQ for engagement against the edge of the opening IB- and this materially-assists in locating or positioning the front plate with respect to hood in the assembly of the mask as a whole.-

The front plate includes a forwardly extending, hollow projection 20 of rectangular outline across the top thereof and a forwardly extending, hol-'- low rib 2| arranged in the median line of the front plate below the projection 20. Said rib is 50 formed with a bulge. to be grasped as a hand hold in applying and removing the'mask.

The hollow projection 20 "has top, bottom and side walls, 24 and 25-25respectively that taper toward a framelike flange 26 so. as to de- 55 flange 26. This element is preferably a piece of clear glass. In the use of the mask, this glass is bombarded by sparks, pieces of scale and the like and often ao-filament-like deposit adheres to the glass so as to impair the vision therethrough. Thus its useis limited as to time because such sparksooften pit the same and the deposits before mentioned cannot be removed. Therefore, when the 'glass reaches a condition wherein visibility is materially reduced, it is removed and discarded and a new one is substituted therefor.

To make this an easy matter, I provide a frame 30 to receive the glass and hold it against the gasket 29 This frame which is of an angle bar cross section is removably'secured in place by hooks 3|-3| that engage'the side portions of the frame. Each hook is carried on one end of a stem 32, theother end of whiehis yieldably and extensibly engaged in a hollow 'ar m 33 that is pivoted at 34 between the ears of a pair of cars 35 secured to the side walls 25 of the hollow projection 20. The hooks 3| are arranged to engage behind suitable projections on the frame, as best appears in Fig. 4. To remove a glass,

1 the hooks 3| are pulled outwardly and then the stems 32/are swung about the pivots 34. This permits removal of the-frame 30 from which the used glass is removed for the substitution of a new one. The frame is now replaced upon the flange 26 and the hooks 3| swung back into the position shown in Fig. 4, to. secure the frame in position.

Associated with the inner end of the sight opening 21 within the hollow projections 20 is a ray filtering means which normally covers this.

provide the removable feature, the side portions of the front frame carry clamp screws 40 (see Fig. 4)' for clamping engagement against side portions ofthe rear frame. A gasket 4| is interposed between the ray fi1ter:36 and the frame 38 and a; second gasket 42 is secured to the flange 26 about the sight opening 21 for engagement by the front frame 31.

It is apparent that the parts providlnggthe ray filtering means are pivotally mounted for an inward and downward swinging movement about thepivots 39-39 from aposition normally covering the sight opening to one uncovering said sight opening. A stop 43 is provided on the inside of the hood to limit the downward swinging movement of the ray filtering means as a whole.

This stop is supported by somewhat yieldable "arms 44 that straddle that party of the opening |6in the front wall of the hood, associated with the top end portion of the hollow rib 2| of the front plate.

.The ray filtering means is held in its normal position covering the sight opening 21 by the following means: Arranged within the upper portion of the hollow rib 2| is a normally extensible plunger means indicated as a whole at 45 in Fig. 3; said means includes-a bottom plunger the a sight opening 21. The front side of said opening is normally closed by a. transparent .element 28 which seats against a gasket 29 on the portion 46 that is pivoted at its bottom end on a pin 41 secured in the opposite sides of the hollow rib at this point. The top end of' said plunger extends into the bottom end of a tubular sleeve 48. One end of a link 43 is pivoted to the top 5 end of, the sleeve 48 as at 50 and the other end. of said link is pivoted to an arm 5| on the bottom edge of the frame 31 before mentioned. An expansible spring 52 is provided in the sleeve 48 between the plunger .46 and a cross pin 53 10 carried by the sleeve 48 below the pivot pin 56. The expansive action of said spring, operating through the sleeve 48 and link 49, normally urges the ray filtering means into a position covering the rear end of the sight opening 21.

A bell crank lever 54 which includes long and.

short arms 55-56 as best shown in Fig. 3 is pivoted on a pin 51. This pin is supported by ears 58 projecting upwardly from the bottom wall 24 of the hollow projections on each side of the 6 space between the side walls of the hollow rib 2|. The free end of the arm 55 is operatively engaged with the pivot pin 50.

When a force is applied to the arm 56 to swing the bell crank lever in a counterclockwise di- 25 rection, as shown in Fig. 3, this actuates the sleeve 48 to compress the spring 52. This causes the arm 55 to pull downwardly on the link 49 and through the arm 5|, swing the ray filtering means downwardly and inwardly to be stopped 30 by its engagement with the member 43. In this position of the ray filtering means, a clear vision is had through the sight opening and through the glass 28. In this movement of the parts, the

means 45 swings slightly inwardly about the 35 pin 41. When the force before mentioned is released, the spring 52 operates to return the ray filtering means to its position covering the. sight p ning. 1

It ispreferred-that the force before mentioned 40 'for thus-actuating the ray filtering means for uncovering the sight opening be afforded by movement of some facial feature or part of the operator. -As the chin is capable of the desired amount of movement whereby the ray filtering means may be thus actuated, a chin engageable member 59 is provided. This chin engageable member which is concaved or cup shaped, is mounted on the hollow head 60 on one end of an extensible and contractible actuating bar indi- 5 cated as a whole as at 6|. This bar includes inner and outer telescopic sleeves 62-63, one end of the sleeve 62 being connected to the head 60 and the opposite end ofthe sleeve 63 being pivotally connected as at 64 to the arm 56 of the bell crank lever 54" before mentioned.

Associated with e actuating bar is an extensible and contractible fulcrum bar indicated as. a whole at 65.- The fulcrum bar, which is ating bar, includes inner *and outer tel opic sleeves 66 and 61 respectively. To prey nt the complete separation of the sleeves, in the extension of said sleeves, the sleeve 61 carries-a spring extend through an opening in the" sleeve 61 so as to slide along the sleeve 66. In the inner end of said sleeve 66 is a hole 68. In the extension of said sleeves, when said hole 69 registers catch 68. This catch has a bent end finger to with the finger 'of the catch, Sela finger drops 70 into said hole to limit the separation between said sleeves. If it is desired to provide complete separation between said sleeve parts for cleaning or the like, the spring latch 681s sprung away from the sleeve 66 to permit its withdrawal from somewhat similar in construction to the actu- 60 the sleeve 61. One end of the sleeve 61 is pivotally mounted on the pin 41 before mentioned.

The opposite end of the sleeve 66 is enlarged to provide a head 18 arranged within thehead 68 and having a pivotal connection therewith by means of a pin 1|.

Y The'actuating bar 6| is held in the desired extended condition by the following means. In

- to grip againstthe internal surface of the sleeve 63. A spring 15 is disposed between said roll-- ing wedge and a cross pin 16 in the sleeve 62 and this spring normally tends to move the wedge up the surface 12 so as to grip against the sleeve 63. To release the grip of the wedge when desired, a U shaped clevis 11 is so arranged that its closed end engages behind the rolling wedge. and its open end s nnect to one of an actuating link 18. The at e d of this link is pivotally connected to an arm 18 of a trigger 88 that is also pivoted on the pin 1| before mentioned. When the trigger 88 is moved forwardly, this exerts a pull on the link 18 which through the clevis 11 moves the rolling wedge down the *cam surface 12 to release its grip on the sleeve 63. In this position of the wedge, the sleeves 62-63 may be telescoped relatively to increase or decrease the length of the bar 6| as a whole. When the pressure on the trig er 88 is released, the spring 15 operates immediately to move the rolling wedge 13 up the cam surface 12 to again grip the sleeve 63.

It is apparent from the foregoing, that while the wedge 13 and associated parts form a oneway clutch which normally holds the actuating bar against extension or lengthening until the trigger-88 is actuated, the bar is capable of retraction or shortening without actuation of the trigger.

The fulcrum bar includes a two wayclutch through slots 83'-88a in the top. side of the sleeve 66 so as to grip againstthe internal surface of the sleeve 61. An expansion spring 84 is disposed. between said wedges to roll them up the r inclinations of the cam surface 8|-8|a o that is disposedin the tube with its cross-bar at said wedges both grip against the internal surface of the sleeve 61 to hold both sleeves against relative movement in, either direction.

To actuate said rolling wedges to permit either the extension or contraction of the sleeves 66-61, the following is provided: a clevis or yoke 85 one end thereof engaged with the wedge 82 and vwith its other ends operatively connected to a pair of links 86 that extend .out through the outer end .of the sleeve 66.- A second pair of inner end to, engage against the wedge,82a. The

. outer ends of'the links 8681 are pivotally connected to the'opr'iosed armsof a double arm trig- -ger 88 that is alsopivoted'onthe pin 1| before mentioned. I V

said member 58. V The hand holding the grip 22 may now be'reeach other so as to roll down the surfaces 8 |8|a,

to compress the spring 84 betweenthem. As the wedges roll down the surfaces 8l-8|a., they release their grip on the internal surface of the sleeve 61 so that the sleeves 66--61 are relatively extensible or contractible as desired toprovide the necessary length of the fulcrum bar foradjusting the position of the chin rest or engagev able means 58. When pressure on the trigger 88 is released,- the spring 84 expands to return the wedges upwardly of the cam surfaces 8|--8 la to again grip against the internal surfaces of the sleeve 61 to lock it to thesleeve 66.

' The chin engageable means or member 58 is I capable of a turning adjustment about the pin 1| as an axis and this adjustment is accomplished by the following mechanism. The chin engageable member 58 is provided with sidearms 8888 that, straddle the head 68 and the pin 1| before mentioned also extends through said arms not only to hold them against displacement, but also to provide the pivotal axis I therefor. The head 68 of the actuating bar 6| is made with a segmental gear section 8| and this gear section is engaged by a Worm 82 that is rotatively mounted as 'at 83 with respect to a post-like portion 84 that connects the two arms of the chin engageable member together. It is apparent that by turning the worm 82, the chin engageable member is caused to turn about the pin 1| as an axis to move the said member into the desired angular position with respect to the a head 68. i

In the use of the mask, it'is applied in the usual manner,- with the forehead engaged with the rest l4 and the strap or stall l5 engaged upon the back of the head. This arranges the eyes of the wearer into the plane of the sight opening 21. The wearer, while holding the grip 22 with one hand, reaches up under the bottom of the hood and grasps the two triggers 88 and 88 and pinches them together. This releases the clutch mechanism in both the actuating bar and in the fulcrum bar. Simultaneouslywith this movement of the triggers, the fulcrum bar and the actuating bar are swung upwardly-about the axis pins 41 and 51 into .a position wherein the member 58 engages the chin.

When the triggers are released, the fulcrum bar locks itself and holds the parts in, this approximate position. The worm 82 is then turned to swing the member 58 about the pin 11 so that the chin firmly engages in the hollow or recess of leased as the head is so engaged between the rest l4, stall l5 andmember. 58 that themask snugly, yet comfortably, fits the wearer's head soythat it requires no holding by hand. By reason. of the formation and-the adjustment of'the member 58, the mask fits so perfectly that it doesnot drop away or toward the'face when the head is positioned to look downwardly or upwardly.

- In welding, the ray filtering member 36 protects the eyes from theharmful rays of the are when electric welding or from the flame when gas welding or burning. .Assume that the operator desires a better sight of the work at hand to see how the same is progressing: When the are. or

flame is removed from the work, 'theioperator exerts a pull on the link 49 which through the arm 5| swings the framefor the ray filter inwardly and'downwardly to engage against the stop 43 to uncover the opening 21. The operator then peers through the protecting glass 28 for a full vision of the work at hand. To a n cover the sight opening with-the ray filter, the lower jaw of the operator is merely closed against the upper jaw. This releases the pressure on the member 59 when the spring 52 expands to return all parts to their normal posi-- tion. "In the movement of the parts, the plunger means 45 swings about the pin 41 as an axis to accommodate the swinging movement, of the related parts such as the bell crank lever 54 and link 49.

It is apparent from the matter above set forth that the mask is capable of being adjusted to fit the features. of the operator; so efficiently that no hands are required to hold the mask in place, no matter what angular position the head must take, to accommodate the work being done. Thus, both hands are left free so that one hand may be used for holding on to adjacent structure, such as when the operator is working under precarious conditions. a

By reason of the adjustments provided for in the actuating bar, and fulcrum bar, as well as by the angular'adjust'ment, of the means 59 with respect to the'connected together ends of the said bars, the chin engageable means is capable ofadjustment' to fit any kind or size of facial features;

While in describing the invention, I have referred. in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the various parts involved, the same is tobe considered only in an illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as-may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a welders mask, means adapted to be worn'upon the'head of a person and-having a sight opening therein, meansproviding aray filter mounted for movement to cover and uncover saidv opening, chin engageable means, means connecting said chin engageable means-with said ray filter means for moving the latter to cover f and uncover the sight opening, and means providing for an adjustable pivotal mounting for said chin engageable means .on said connecting means and comprising a gear segment carried by said connecting means and a worm carried by said chin engageable means and engaged with said gear segment. 1

2. In a welders mask, means adapted to be" cover said opening, chin engageable means, means connecting. 'saidchin engageable means.

- with said ray filter means for moving the latter to cover and uncover ,the sight opening, said connecting means including parts capable of relative movement for adjustment to provide an 75" upward and downward'movement of said necting means.

, by said connecting means for releasing said holding said chin engageable means, and means to adjust-the chin. engageable means upon its pivotal mounting.

engageable'means as well as a movement of said means toward and away from said first mentioned means, and means providing an adjustable pivotal mounting for said chin engageable means on said connecting means, said means 5 including a gear segment carried by said connecting means and a worm carried by said chin engageable means and engaged with said segment.

3. In a welder's mask, means adapted to be worn upon the 'head of a person and having a sight opening therein, means providing a ray filter normally covering the sight opening, means providing a pivotal axis for the bottom portion of said ray filter means and about which said means may swing inwardly and downwardly to uncover the sight opening, 'chin engageable means, means connecting said chin engageable means with said ray filter means for moving the latter tocover and uncover the sight opening, means for adjusting said chin engageable means upwardly. and downwardly, as well as toward and away from the first mentioned means, and means providing an adjustable pivotal movement of said chin engageablemeans on said con- 4. In a welders mask, means adapted to be. worn upon the head of a person and having a sight opening therein,- means providing a ray filter normally covering the sight opening, means providing a pivotal axis for the bottom portion of said ray filter'means and about which said means may swing inwardly and downwardly to uncover the sight opening, -chin engageable means, meansconnecting said chin engageable means with said ray filter means for imparting a swinging movement to the latter to cover and uncover the sight opening, said connecting means including parts capable of relative movement for adjustment to provide an upward and downward, as well as an inward and outward movement of the chin engageable means into the desired position, means for holding said parts of said connecting means in the desired adjusted position and manually operative means carried 45 ing means.

5. In a welders mask, means adapted to be worn upon the head of a person and having a sight opening therein, means providing a ray filter mounted for movement to cover and uncover said opening, chin engageable means, a'fulcrum bar pivotally connected to the first mentioned means, an actuating bar cooperating at one end with oneend of said fulcrum bar for carry- 56 operatively connecting the other end of said actuating bar to said fulcrum bar and to said ray filter means respectivelyffor moving the latter with respect to said opening when said chinengageable means is actuated, 'said chin engage- 9 able means being pivotally mounted on said connecting means and which carries a gear segment, and a worm carriedby-said chin engageable means and meshing with said gear segment 6;;[n a welders ,mask', means adapted to be worn upon the head of a person and having asight opening therein, means providing a ray filter mounted formovement to coverv and uncover said opening, chin engageable means, a fulcrumbar comprising af; plurality of telescopic members, one pivotally coiinected to the first worn upon the head of a person' and having a sight opening therein, means providing a ray filter mounted for movement to cover and uncover said opening, chin engageable means, a fulcrum bar plvotally connected to said first mentioned means for a swinging movement, means providing a pivotal adjustment of the chin engageable means upon said fulcrum bar, and means connected-to said fulcrum bar and to said rayfilter means respectively for moving the latter with respect to said opening when said chin engageable means is actuated.

8. In a welders mask, means adapted to be worn upon the head of a person and having a sight opening therein, means providing a ray filter mounted for movement to cover and uncover said opening, a chin engageable member, means providing a fulcrum bar pivotally connected at one end to said first mentioned means, means providing an actuating bar operatively connected at one end with respect to said ray filter means and operatively connected at the other end to the other end of said fulcrum bar, and means for operatively mounting said chin engageable means with respect to the last mentioned end of said fulcrum bar and said actuating bar respectively.

9. In a welders mask, means adapted to be worn upon the head of a. person and having a sight opening therein, means providing a ray filter mounted for movement to cover and uncover said opening, a chin engageable member, means providing a fulcrum bar pivotally connected at one end to said first mentioned means,

means providing a telescopically adjustable adtuating bar operatively connected at one "-end to said ray filter means and operatively connected at the other end to the other end of said fulcrum bar, and means for operatively mounting said chin engageable means with respect to the last mentioned end of thefulcrum bar and said actuating bar respectively.

10. In a welders mask, means adapted to be worn upon the head of a person and having a sight opening therein, means providing a ray filter mounted for movement to cover and uncover said opening, a chin eng'ageable member,

means providing a fulcrum bar pivotally connected at one end to said first mentionedmeans,- means providing a telescopically adjustable actuating bar operatively connected at one end to said ray filter means and operatively connected at the other end to the other end of said fulcrum bar, means for releasably securing said fulcrum bar and said actuating bar respectively in their desired adjusted condition as to length, and

means for operatively-,mounting said chin en-i 'gageable means 'with respect to the last mentioned end 'of the fulcrum bar and said actuating bar respectively.

11. In a welders mask, means adapted to be,

Worn upon the head of a person and having a sight opening therein, means providing a ray filter mounted for movement to cover and uncover said opening, a chin engageable member, means providing a' fulcrum bar pivotally connected at one end to said first mentioned means, means providing a telescopically adjustable actuating bar operatively connected at one end to said ray filter means and ope'ratively connected at the other end to the other end of said fulcrum-bar, and means providing a pivotal adjustable mounting for said chin engageable means with respect to the last mentioned end of the fulcrum bar and the said actuating bar respectively.

KAISE W. MENIEI'SH. 

